FINDING ANSWERS TO THE GRAND CHALLENGES AIT Managing Directors Anton Plimon and Wolfgang Knoll on AIT's strategic orientation and current research topics. The corona crisis naturally also poses challenges for AIT. How do the approximately 1,400 employees deal with it? Anton Plimon: We have achieved two important goals: AIT continues to function even under challenging conditions. Research projects are continued in the home office as best they can, communication and collaboration have been advanced virtually. Secondly, many of the issues we are working on are essential for managing the crisis – such as telehealth solutions to provide medical care to people in quarantine, symptom tracking by means of an anonymous online survey, or systems for optimizing the logistics of aid measures. Simulation tools for managing passenger flows in supermarkets or in public transport facilities are important as well. Wolfgang Knoll: Our research in the field of biosensors is also an important contribution: One case in point concerns the development of an odour test which could become a kind of "early indicator" of a Covid-19 infection. With its recognised experience with tools for crisis and disaster management, AIT is also one of the leading partners in the EU STAMINA project. This aims at developing a new system for dealing with future pandemics. 38 partners from more than a dozen countries are jointly developing an intelligent system to support decision-making in predicting and managing pandemics. This system aims at supporting first responders, practitioners, hospital staff as well as pan8
demic crisis managers in their daily work. We are among the top players here.
particularly great potential in areas where hydrogen is used both materially and energetically.
In addition to digitisation, decarbonisation plays an essential role in AIT's strategic orientation in infrastructure research. So where do we go from here? WK: We have been pursuing projects in this direction since AIT was founded. We see this as an absolute necessity in order to hand over the world to the next generation in at least the same condition. This also opens up opportunities for the Austrian economy: Thanks to new, more efficient and future-oriented technologies, our competitiveness on the world market is growing. This secures the generation of added value and jobs. AP: A major priority is the decarbonisation of industry: AIT plays a leading role in the Austrian "Energy Showcase Region" on the topic of "New Energy for Industry – NEFI", a unique innovation network that develops solutions for the complete decarbonisation of Austrian industry. These innovations will make a significant contribution to securing industrial locations in Austria and will lay the foundation for climate-friendly technologies "made in Austria". Great importance is attached to the use of waste heat in industry itself, but also outside of it, such as in district heating networks in the vicinity – keyword: Sector coupling. The subject of hydrogen is also becoming increasingly important in this context as well: We see
What are AIT's priorities in the field of energy research? WK: Energy systems are highly complex. A transformation towards climate neutrality requires not only new individual technologies but also a view of the entire system. Only by viewing the entire value and effect chain is it possible to tap the full innovation potential in terms of holistic climate protection. This system competence is a unique AIT selling point. For example, we can integrate components into real networks in many simulation systems and several special labs where we can test and further develop them under conditions that closely approximate real-world conditions. In our SmartEST lab, we offer reality-oriented research, for example for flexible "smart grids". AP: The energy transition requires the integration of all sectors. We conduct research e.g. into climate-friendly, user-oriented and multimodal mobility. This starts with simulations for optimising the traffic infrastructure and the interoperability of different means of transport and extends to research on e-mobility. Our battery lab has its own production line in which we can further develop lithium-ion batteries. We are active at cell, module and system level here. We are also developing new components and power electronics for highly efficient drive trains of electric vehicles. AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
